LITR 4332 American Minority Literature Model Assignments Research Project Submissions 2013 Research Post 1

Katasha DeRouen

3/17/13

Harriet Jacobs: Now and Then

             After reading Harriet Jacobs’s interesting account of her experiences of enslavement and journey to freedom in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, one profound question continued to linger throughout my mind. What now? At the time she published her work, it was extremely dangerous and damaging to publicize texts of this nature. Her story both intrigued and sparked a certain passion within me—a passion to explore. I was consumed with what happened to Jacobs after her journey towards freedom had reached a successful point.  Where did this brave woman end up? This semester served as my initial introduction to her story, thus my now is her then. Being such, I decided to dig a little deeper, and what was uncovered is insightfully uplifting.

            Fast forwarding to the ending lines of the class text, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jacobs expresses, “It is a privilege to serve her who pities my oppressed people, and who has bestowed the inestimable boon of freedom on me and my children” (Harriet Jacobs Papers). This line was intriguing to me; I wondered why Jacobs, now free, felt “privileged” to serve a woman, above all other viable opportunities. I attempted to find the woman Jacobs referred to in the piece, Mrs. Bruce. It turns out that Mrs. Bruce is actually Cornelia Grinnell Willis, wife of author Nathaniel Parker Willis. Mrs. Willis was responsible for Jacobs' 1852 purchase and manumission. Further, Mr. Willis’ sister Sarah Payson Willis Parton (Fanny Fern), was also a friend of Jacobs, who inspired and supported her endeavors in writing and publishing her story.

However, in continuing to search for meaningful relationships Jacobs held with others, I drew a connection between Mrs. Bruce, the woman Jacobs speaks of in the aforementioned passage, and an acquaintance Jacobs acquired while in Alexandria, Virginia, Julia Wilbur. The New York Times article, “Harriet Jacobs’s War”, describes Wilbur as a Quaker in support of the refugee slaves, who expressed a certain pity when describing the deplorable conditions the slaves were subjected to, “I saw many C’s [contrabands] in dreadful places-no chimneys- no floors-Unfit for Brutes…” (Korb). During this time, 1862, Alexandria served as a “contraband camp” to those slave refugees from the south. Thus, Jacobs came into contact with many people who shared her former experience as a slave. Despite the threat of small pox disease, she was compelled to help the refugees by providing food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention. Jacobs not only had to fight the contraction of small pox, she also had to deal with personal mistreatment by those uncomfortable with her presence.  Her devotion to them brought her a sense of privileged pride, hence her connection with her “commitment to God’s poor”, and the “privilege to serve”  (Jacobs).

In addition to the professional relationship she eventually formed with Wilbur, a site referred to as “The Harriet Jacobs Papers” provides a reputable list of names which Jacobs was well associated with. Most notable was another contributor of class reading, Frederick Douglass. The site notes the two as common acquaintances, with Jacobs’s brother, John, serving as Douglass’s co-lecturer against slavery in 1849. How powerful is it to know that two epic minds could come together to assist one another in spreading a prevailing message, despite their own struggles? Imagine the conversations and planning endeavors that took place amongst them . . . MONUMENTAL!

            Reverting to my original question, “what now?” my focus was drawn to a video clip embedded on the Black Issues Forum site. In the video, college alumni discuss the present day historical site in memory of Jacobs. The monument is located in Edenton, North Carolina, and is the exact home where Jacobs was enslaved. There is a tour available, in which the participants are able to intimately connect with various aspects of Jacobs’s then. An astounding fact worth mentioning is the size of the plantation. When reading Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, I envisioned this massive home on several acres of land. As revealed in the piece, the plantation was relatively small, thus making Jacobs’ hiding there more difficult than originally assumed. As the camera pans the home in the clip, I begin to reflect on my now. Her then servitude was powered by resistance. Post slavery for Jacobs, although her life has ended, continues into the now.

My initial question remains, yet somewhat altered “what do we do now”? In my next post I will venture into answering this question. What steps can we, especially women, take to continue Jacobs’ work? How can we honor her legacy?